Turkey bans gay film festival

A festival of German-language gay films, which was due to be held in Ankara, was banned by Turkish officials.

Turkish officials argued that they banned the festival because it could incite violence and be targeted by terror attacks.

Pink Life Queer Fest, the organizer of the festival, had planned to screen four gay-themed films at cinemas on November 16 and 17.

Even though homosexuality is not illegal in Tukey, but homophobia still remains prevalent in the Muslim-majority country.

Ankara’s governor office said in a statement that the festival’s content could incite grudges and enmity towards a part of society.

Intelligence also briefed the government officials that terror organizations were planning to launch attacks on dissident groups or individuals and that the festival could be provocative and trigger reactions.

Before it was banned, the festival had already been targeted and attacked on social media, the event’s organizer claimed.

“Suggesting that these screenings could be provocative or targeted by terror groups only goes to legitimize those people and institutions that produce hate speech towards us and see our existence as a threat,” they said in a statement.

LGBT groups in Turkey have complained that their rights are being curbed under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), which is promoting conservative Islam values.

The annual gay pride parade, which was once a popular event held regularly in Istanbul, has been banned for three years in a row.

More details to follow. Image 1 of gay activists marching from Gaga Daily